The Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession
THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLIS — Representation in any walk of life is a very important factor, which should not be undervalued. That representation also is an additional reason diversity, equity and inclusion are invaluable, particularly in the legal field. Oftentimes as a child, when asked what I wanted to be growing up, I would consider a…
Read More about The Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Legal ProfessionLegal job figures break pre-pandemic records
ABA JOURNAL — The number of legal jobs broke pre-pandemic records in October 2021, according to revised data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Law.com has the story. In October 2021, the legal services sector had 1,168,600 jobs, surpassing the pre-pandemic high set in February 2020 by 5,600 jobs. The number of legal jobs continues…
Read More about Legal job figures break pre-pandemic recordsLaw experts work to address mental health and substance abuse issues among legal professionals
WRAL.COM — One of the many lasting consequences of the pandemic will be the way it’s impacted mental health. The sudden death last weekend of former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst has more people talking about how to take proactive measures to combat the issue. Top law leaders across the Triangle came together Friday at the Welwynn Outpatient Center…
Read More about Law experts work to address mental health and substance abuse issues among legal professionalsLaw firms report slow progress on diversity initiatives
BLOOMBERG LAW — There’s an exercise I do in my law firm diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) trainings. I call it the Ten-Year Challenge. I show a slide with race, ethnicity, and gender stats for large law firms 10 years ago. Then I show stats from this year. Then I ask my group, “What has changed?” The…
Read More about Law firms report slow progress on diversity initiativesLaw firm partners with bar exam prep company to recruit law students
REUTERS — Hoping to lock in future clients, a major legal recruiting firm has partnered with the country’s largest bar exam prep company to offer career guidance to law students. Major, Lindsey & Africa and BARBRI this week said they will jointly provide career resources for law students who sign up for BARBRI’s test prep program, focused…
Read More about Law firm partners with bar exam prep company to recruit law studentsHow law firms can better accommodate lawyers’ needs
THOMSON REUTERS — Just 2% of lawyers from our global database of almost 1,200 client-nominated attorneys (Stand-out Lawyers) are completely happy with their set of non-billable responsibilities, according to the Thomson Reuters Institute’s Stellar Performance: Skills & Progression Mid-Year Survey. The survey also points out that lawyers have said they are responsible for an average of…
Read More about How law firms can better accommodate lawyers’ needsSMU Dedman Law recognized by White House for legal helpline for local residents
SMU DEDMAN SCHOOL OF LAW — The White House and the U.S. Department of Justice recognized the pro-bono legal services SMU’s Dedman School of Law offered through its free COVID-19 Helpline to North Texans dealing with consumer, employment and immigration legal issues. The effort was honored for its response to Attorney General Merrick Garland’s call to…
Read More about SMU Dedman Law recognized by White House for legal helpline for local residentsThe path to law firm partnership gets longer for new associates
REUTERS — The number of years it takes to become partner at a major law firm is getting longer and longer, new research shows, despite tentative moves by some large firms to speed the way. Associates last year took an average of nearly nine years to make partner at the firms where they began their careers, according…
Read More about The path to law firm partnership gets longer for new associatesHow law firms can improve diversity efforts
BLOOMBERG LAW — Law firm leaders, partners, and recruiting departments already know how to find the same small number of diverse candidates year in and year out, say Intellectual Ventures’ Arvin Patel and Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP partner Jonathan K. Waldrop. The key to improving firm diversity is to dramatically increase diverse hires, implement diverse hiring…
Read More about How law firms can improve diversity effortsBlack Women Law Deans to be Honored for Antiracism Efforts
BLOOMBERG LAW — This summer, the deaths of George Floyd and others sparked demands for systemic reform, including in the legal profession. And law schools were among the institutions that jumped at the opportunity. Now, five Black women law school deans will be recognized for their efforts to reshape legal education and provide law students and young…
Read More about Black Women Law Deans to be Honored for Antiracism Efforts